The new $50 banknote enters general circulation tomorrow, marking a milestone in the
upgrade of Australia's banknotes. The $50 is the most widely circulated
banknote, accounting for nearly half of the total value of banknotes in use, and it
is the denomination primarily used in ATMs.

The new $50 is the third denomination in the new series of banknotes and follows the
release of the $5 and $10 over the past two years. The new $20 is expected to be
issued in 2019 and the new $100 in 2020.

Governor Philip Lowe said ‘We were keen for the new $5 and $10 to be well
accepted before we launched the most popular note, the $50. This has involved
working closely with businesses to assist cash handlers and cash-handling machines
to identify and use the notes, which will help minimise disruption to people and
businesses.’

The new $50 retains the basic design elements from the previous series. It features
portraits of Aboriginal writer and inventor, David Unaipon, and Australia's first
female member of parliament, Edith Cowan. They were both campaigners for social
change and their work is recognised in several design elements on the banknote. The
microprint includes excerpts of Unaipon's book, Legendary Tales of the Australian
Aborigines, and Cowan's first speech to the Western Australian Parliament.

The new banknote also has the same security features as the $5 and $10 to deter
counterfeiting. It has a top-to-bottom clear window that contains a number of
dynamic features including a reversing number and flying bird, as well as microprint
and a patch with a rolling colour effect.

It also has a ‘tactile’ feature to help the vision-impaired community
distinguish between different denominations of banknotes. On the $50 banknote, this
is four raised bumps on each of the long edges of the banknote.

As with any new banknote release, it will take time for the new banknotes to be
widely available. While the existing series of banknotes will be progressively
withdrawn from circulation, they will retain their legal tender status and can
continue to be used.

This image shows the signature side of the new $50 banknote.

This image shows the serial number side of the new $50 banknote.

Full details of the design and security features on the new $50 banknote, and other
denominations, are available on the Bank's website at banknotes.rba.gov.au.